Tuesday 26/6

Transcript

Philip Hart: So, how many applications did we get, Marcia?
Marcia Boardman: Well...overall we’ve got over two hundred...
PH: That many!?
MB: Yes, but...most of which we can discard right away...people who don’t have the right experience, qualifications that kind of thing...
PH: Of course...
MB: ...and then we get the people who submit ten-page-long CVs, or CVs in comicbook font, or green ink, or they attach a photo of themselves disco dancing...you know the kind of thing!
MB: So, I whittled down the serious candidates to a shortlist of twelve people.
PH: And we’ll interview all of them?
MB: I think we should – but obviously I’ll let you have a look first.
PH: Great...so, who have we got then?
MB: Well, I think we’ve got some pretty strong candidates, two in particular...
PH: They have the right kind of profile?
MB: I’d certainly say so – a strong educational background, experience in multinational sales, language skills...
PH: Good, I look forward to meeting them.
MB: So I’d say we do the standard interview format..
PH: Sure..
MB: A few general questions, then onto specifics...
PH: Yes, exactly – I want to hear specific details of when they’ve solved problems...
MB: Yes and then something about “vision”, as you put it...
PH: Yes...what do you think about a brief presentation?
MB: I think that’s a good idea – we could ask them to give a short presentation on where they see the company going – and how they see themselves taking us there.
PH: Great! You know something? I’m really looking forward to this!

 

Marcia Boardman: Good morning Daniel!

Daniel: Dan, please...

Marcia Boardman: I’m Marcia Boardman – we spoke on the phone – and this is Philip Hart, our CEO.

Philip Hart: Hello!

Daniel: Nice to meet you both.

Philip Hart: So it says here on your CV that you’re interested in rock climbing...

Daniel: Yeah... love it!

Philip Hart: Great – so do I! When did you last go climbing?

Daniel: Oh, err, well, it was a while ago now...

Philip Hart: Anywhere interesting?

Daniel: Yeah. I walked up the hill behind my house. Took me about thirty minutes!

Philip Hart: Oh.

Marcia Boardman: OK, erm, Daniel, can you tell us a little bit about your current position?

Daniel: Certainly – as it says in the CV, I’m part of the European Sales team at Networld. We’re the world’s leading supplier of IT hardware.

Philip Hart: Why do you want to move on?

Daniel: Well, they’re too small for me.

Marcia Boardman: Networld!? Networld are too small for you?

Daniel: Oh yeah. I’m looking for something much bigger.

Philip Hart: Well, we’re not a big company by any means, but we are looking to grow! What first attracted you to WebWare in particular?

Daniel: Well, I see WebWare as kind of like a stepping stone...

Marcia Boardman: Sorry?

Daniel: Yeah, start here gain the necessary experience, then move onto something bigger.

Philip Hart: OK... well, I do admire your ambition!

Daniel: Thanks – I’ve got lots of it!

Marcia Boardman: Let’s move on to managing people. Can you give an example of a time when you had to deal with a particularly difficult managee?

Daniel: Sure – well I think that’s one of my strong points actually. A couple of years ago, I was working with a guy, he wasn’t pulling his weight, basically being lazy – so I told him to get out.

Marcia Boardman: Oh, you didn’t give him a performance review, or a warning, or perhaps try to help develop his motivation?

Daniel: No, no, no. None of that rubbish. If someone’s not working hard enough, then they’re out! That’s the way I work. I’m a hard man.

Marcia Boardman: I see.

Philip Hart: How would you handle a rapidly changing market?

Daniel: Basically not change anything at all! Just continue on as normal regardless!

Marcia Boardman: According to your CV you are fluent in Mandarin...

Daniel: Well, I wouldn’t say ‘fluent’ exactly... but, I like Chinese food a lot – so I can read the menu!

Philip Hart: So you can’t actually speak the language?

Daniel: Erm, no.

Marcia Boardman: Can you tell us about a time you had to close a particularly challenging deal.

Daniel: I haven’t had one. They’re all easy for me. I close deals all the time!

Marcia Boardman: OK – well do you have any questions for us?

Daniel: No.

Philip Hart: Oh. OK. Erm. Thanks.

Marcia Boardman: Let’s move on to the presentation...